Cretan Brake Fern Pteris
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TARE-iss
- Description
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Pteris is a genus of 300 species of ferns that are native to tropical and subtropical regions. It is often grown as a houseplant. It is terrestrial and rhizomous and has an erect to creeping habit. This plant is seen in subtropics and tropics and is a common member to be cultivared.
Quick ID Hints:
- Pinnae with elongated narrow segments
- Sori marginal covered by inrolled margin
- Fronds often variegated above
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No significant diseases or pests. Watch for Florida Fern Caterpillar.
VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Pteris cretica
slow growing, 18 to 24 inches tall, pale green fronds, arching, 1 to 5 pairs of simple or forked pinnae - Pteris cretica 'Albolineata'
grayish-green fronds with wide center white stripe - Pteris cretica "Mayii'
18 to 24 inches tall, narrow green fronds wide white center band - Pteris cretica var. cretica 'Ping Wu'
dense, dwarf, narrow fronds
- Pteris cretica
- Pteris cretica, Pteris cretica 'Albolineata', Pteris cretica "Mayii', Pteris cretica var. cretica 'Ping Wu'
- Tags:
![Pteris cretica](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Pteris_cretica_pKfhJWI4TInH.jpeg)
![Pteris nipponica](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Pteris_nipponica_YBBKpZNfwBOb.jpeg)
![Pteris ensiformis 'Evergerniensis'](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Pteris_ensiformis_E_0tUOEYrzsYjW.jpeg)
![Pteris hillebrandii](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Pteris_hillebrandii__z327psF64nOU.jpeg)
![Pteris quadriaurita](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Pteris_quadriaurita_uP4IIVdTIZFt.jpeg)
![Pteris tremula](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Pteris_tremula_Dade_iXpxEmmvOPHU.jpeg)
![Pteris tripartita](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Pteris_tripartita_L_FZ44bFaBVSgK.jpeg)
![Pteris tripartita](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Pteris_tripartitaLa_FoO4XlkkZ7Sk.jpeg)
![Pteris vittata](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Pteris_vittata_JMK_c_egU6QHSAEyYi.jpeg)
![Pteris vittata](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Pteris_vittata_Keiso_7vDLoz0AtS9H.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris__thumb_ezIryQESpgvs.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_2_thumb_rlXToXxzpQB0.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_cretica_thumb_zDWh3XGK1Zvc.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_nipponica_thu_r3w9Y1jggVSP.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_ensiformis_E_8F1eEvruiwC4.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_hillebrandii__PJ4idpqrBedt.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_quadriaurita_AjEgXeAnqJTN.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_tremula_Dade_e4SpBymMdeLT.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_tripartita_L_1M6nL64KA8sZ.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_tripartitaLa_IYKlbSCZGGyV.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_vittata_JMK_c_MvzfMutuLMFt.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Pteris_vittata_Keiso_0KcNBcD0hjgt.jpeg)
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Pteris cretica
slow growing, 18 to 24 inches tall, pale green fronds, arching, 1 to 5 pairs of simple or forked pinnae - Pteris cretica 'Albolineata'
grayish-green fronds with wide center white stripe - Pteris cretica "Mayii'
18 to 24 inches tall, narrow green fronds wide white center band - Pteris cretica var. cretica 'Ping Wu'
dense, dwarf, narrow fronds
- Pteris cretica
- Pteris cretica, Pteris cretica 'Albolineata', Pteris cretica "Mayii', Pteris cretica var. cretica 'Ping Wu'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pteris
- Family:
- Pteridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Tropical Asia, Africa, South America, North America
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Houseplant
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves/fronds are pinnately compound to decompound, are often variegated in cultivation, and the basal pinnae are often forked. Pinnae is elongated, linear to elliptic lanceolate, green marginally and often variegated towards the medial area, entire, and folded inward.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer